4-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Ronald Rice, aka Lil Ron, 35, Madison, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Madison to illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.  This charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

During the plea hearing, Rice admitted that, on May 19, 2019, while at a party on North Wickham Court in Madison, he possessed a Glock .40 caliber firearm.  At the time of the incident, Rice was on federal supervised release for distributing crack cocaine.

As part of the plea agreement, the parties agreed to recommend to the Court that Rice receive a prison sentence of 71 months.  Rice admitted as part of his plea agreement that he was on supervised release at the time he possessed the firearm, and that he violated his conditions of supervised release by possessing a firearm.  The parties also agreed to recommend to the court that Rice receive a sentence of 24 months, to be served consecutive to the 71 months, for his violation of the supervised release conditions.  Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled Rice’s sentencing for April 8, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

In addition to the federal drug conviction, Rice has three other felony convictions, including a state charge of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.

The charge against Rice is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department.  The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber.

The charge against Rice was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime.  The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, and violent crimes and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.